Salvation In Christ: Lesson Three

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THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

The complete study of Christianity includes learning the meaning of religious authority. Who is the source of authority in Christianity? How is authority revealed to man? What is Christ's plan in religious authority?

God, all powerful creator of the universe, is the source of religious authority. God is supreme ruler of the universe. The writer to the Hebrews in the first century said that "God . . . made the worlds." He further states that now God declares His will to men through His Son, Jesus Christ.

"God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1, 2).

Many centuries before Christ lived on earth people followed God by accepting the authority of Moses and the prophets. Now God reveals His will to us through Jesus Christ.

The New Testament writer Matthew tells us about that time when God showed His approval of His Son. On this occasion Moses, Old Testament lawgiver, and Elijah, Old Testament prophet, were with Christ on a mountain. Matthew writes,

"While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5).

This command of God for men to accept Jesus' teachings was given before His death on the cross. After Jesus' resurrection from the dead, His authority, or law, took the place of the Old Testament law.l

Read Galatians 3:19, 24, 25; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:7-13; 10:9, 10.

WHO IS THE SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY?

It is useless for men to try to please God today by obeying the teachings of Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament. Men must accept the teachings of Jesus Christ. His divine law is given in the New Testament scriptures. The person who refuses the authority of Christ is guilty of refusing the will of God (Luke 10:16). He who accepts the authority of Christ accepts the will of God (John 7:16; 17:4,8).

God is the source of all religious authority. How is authority revealed to men? God reveals His authority to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus declared this truth in these words:

HOW MUCH AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN TO JESUS?

"All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).

How much authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus Christ? All authority! Therefore, we must not accept anything as true and divine in religion which does not agree with Jesus' authority. By His authority Jesus has given us all of the teaching we need in order to be saved and live Christian lives acceptable to God. Read John 6:68; 69; 17:3; 2 Peter 1:3.

The supreme authority of Jesus Christ is revealed in the superior place given Him by our Heavenly Father. The apostle Paul writes,

"Which he (the Father) wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23).

Read Philippians 2:8-11; Colossians 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:22.

The New Testament scriptures present Jesus Christ as

Divine (John 1:1)
Prophet (Acts 7:37)
King (1 Timothy 6:14, 15)
High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-28; 8:1-5)
Saviour and Redeemer (Titus 2:13-14).
These scriptures emphasize the superiority and authority of Jesus Christ.

WE MUST ACCEPT THE APOSTLES' TEACHINGS

Accepting the authority of Jesus Christ further means accepting the authority of the New Testament teachings of His apostles. To reject the apostles' teaching is to reject Christ's authority ( Luke 10:16). The apostles were the Lord's personal messengers, or witnesses, on earth. To these inspired spokesmen Jesus declared,

"But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The apostle Paul wrote,

"We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

John, speaking for himself, and all the other apostles, declared,

"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6).

Read 1 John 1:1-4.

ACCEPTING CHRIST'S AUTHORITY MEANS ACCEPTING THE NEW TESTAMENT

The person who accepts the authority of Jesus Christ will also accept the New Testament teachings which came through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Before He left the earth to return to His Father in heaven, the Lord promised to send to His apostles the Holy Spirit to bear witness of Jesus Christ and instruct them in His teachings and authority so that they could proclaim him and his teachings to men (John 14:26; 15:26, 27; 16:13). Through New Testament teachings the Holy Spirit convicts people "in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7-11).

The Holy Spirit, in guiding the apostles in all truth, always expressed the authority and glory of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised His apostles:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you" (John 16:13, 14).

HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE FALSE TEACHERS?

Men who claim a special revelation from the Holy Spirit, but whose teachings are contrary to the gospel of Christ, are fakes. All the revelation given by inspiration through the Holy Spirit is included in the New Testament scriptures. In the New Testament Jesus reveals His authority to us. Those persons who teach and do that which the Bible does not authorize or approve are without Christ. John explains,

"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9).

WE MUST FOLLOW JESUS' TEACHINGS TO BE SAVED

Because Jesus Christ is the supreme authority in religion and the Saviour of men, we must go to his teachings to learn what we must do to be saved. Before Jesus returned to heaven after His death and resurrection He gave to His apostles the "great commission," which reveals the terms of salvation through Christ. Three records are given of this commission:

"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19, 20).

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:15, 16).

"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:46-48).

These words indicate that one must believe in Christ, repent of sins, and be baptized in order to receive salvation in the Lord. Following lessons will explain these steps. Men have salvation in Christ only when they submit to His will. To reject any part of His teaching is to reject the authority of Christ.

JESUS CHRIST WILL HAVE AUTHORITY IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

Christ, first authority in life, will also be the first authority in the day of judgment.

"For as the Father hath life in Himself, even so gave He to the Son also to have life in Himself: And he gave Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is a Son of man" (John 5:26, 27).

Each person's life will be judged by the teachings of Christ. Jesus said,

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Therefore, we must be certain that we fully submit ourselves to His authority.

Jesus the Son of God and supreme authority in Christianity gives a loving and tender invitation for all people to come to Him for salvation:

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).